Global Youth Connect: Human Rights Delegation to Rwanda

I was officially accepted to attend Global Youth Connect’s Rwanda Delegation from August 1-23, 2012.

Global Youth Connect (GYC), founded in 1999 by international youth leaders, is a non-profit organization that aims to “empower young activists from around the globe through a combination of cross cultural human rights learning workshops, volunteer service, and sustained human rights activism aligned with grassroots NGOs, policy makers, and other stakeholders” (Global Youth Connect, http://www.globalyouthconnect.org).

They organize delegations all of the world, but Rwanda particularly caught my attention.

Why Rwanda? I suppose many would raise their eyebrows at the idea of going to Rwanda and I bet most people’s initial reactions are of fear and horror. Some don't even know where it is. For example, I called Bank of America recently to set my security settings before the trip and the staff questioned me whether Rwanda was in Africa.

Rwanda is one of those places that touches my heart and my desire to go there has not only been about seeing the gorillas but also to learn from humankind’s own failures. I studied Rwanda and the genocide during my master’s program and I am deeply interested in post-genocide nations as a whole. Even walking the streets of Prague, I am reminded of the horrific events of the 20th century in Europe. When I think of going to Rwanda, I get a lump in my throat. It is so much more to experience a place and its people, rather than reading about them in a textbook or on the news. I will be meeting survivors who have lived through one of humankind's most grotesque atrocities. More than 800,000 people were brutally and systematically murdered over the course of a couple of months. I am going to hear their stories.I am going with an open mind and an open heart.

The GYC program encompasses everything that I want to experience. The description of what I will be doing is below:

International participants will join with Rwandan peers in a Learning and Action Community to learn about human rights achievements and challenges in Rwanda (and the world) and to take concrete action steps together to support current and future efforts for human rights protection and promotion, both in Rwanda and abroad. Through a combination of workshops, site visits, advocacy meetings, and volunteer service with grassroots NGOs, we will learn and act on numerous key human rights issues in Rwanda, including but not limited to: gender and human rights, human rights of children, LGBTI populations, historically marginalized indigenous groups, refugees, domestic workers, poverty reduction, public health, juvenile justice, freedom of expression and the arts.

In advance of and during the delegation, all participants will examine the roots of the 1994 Rwandan genocide, and see how its legacy has impacted the country and its people, particularly Rwandan youth, and also how the country is attempting to rebuild today (Global Youth Connect, http://www.globalyouthconnect.org)

I feel privileged to be a part of this opportunity and I hope that my participation will do some “good” in this world of chaos.

Click of a Button: Journey to Rwanda

Rwanda, the Land of a Thousand Hills

The spring semester finally ended and my life seemed to be a bit calmer now. It was time to start planning my summer vacation. After my travels to Thailand, I knew I wanted to go to Africa next, but I wanted my next trip to be more meaningful, more educational.

I found myself on the internet doing countless searches of volunteer work in Africa. With this, I also read numerous articles on corruption or poor company practices of “voluntourism.” When the possibilities are endless, searching for a program can be exhausting.  Then, I came across Global Youth Connect, a non-profit organization whose mission is to create a learning and action community of young people on raising awareness of human rights issues. As I was perusing their website, I my eyes immediately went to the text, “still accepting applications.” It was for a human rights delegation in Rwanda.

I have always wanted to go to Rwanda. My first fascination with Rwanda began at a young age. Most girls daydream about being princesses, ballerinas, and even models. As a child, I dreamed of being a primatologist working with gorillas and living in Africa.  Yes, I was allowed to watch Gorillas in the Mist in my youth. My second desire to go to Rwanda is because of my strong interest in Holocaust studies and my interest in humanity. Much of my past has focused on addressing questions of why do events like this happen, why do they continue to offer, and are we humans ever going to evolve?

After I read about the program description, I e-mailed the director for more information and to inquire if it is still possible to apply. I received a friendly reply offering me the opportunity to still apply. So, I gathered my materials and sent it off the next day. In the meantime, I kept thinking to myself, that I didn’t really just apply. I mean, who goes to Rwanda?

The following day, I received an email from the director to set up a phone interview. Nervously, I accepted. I had my interview on a Friday evening and what I thought would last 20 minutes last almost an hour. It turns out that I do well in phone interviews and being passionate about the subject matter helps. I felt very positive after the conversation.

The next morning, I woke up to a “congrats” letter welcoming me to the program. Was this really happening? Will I really be traveling to Kigali this August? A million thoughts raced through my mind. I had one week to decide and after thorough research and speaking with my family, it was time to take my life to the next level. I chose to attend and I chose to change my life.

It’s amazing that we live in a world today where opportunities are endless and vast. By a click of a button, I found this Rwandan program. I never thought that I would be going to Rwanda to participate in a human rights delegation with young leaders, just as eager as I to learn and to make the world we live in a better place.

I will be going to Kigali from August 1-29, 2012 and I will celebrate my birthday in the Land of a Thousand Hills. 

Welcome

I have a lot of meaningful experiences that I have kept to myself. I have been hesitant to start a "blog" though. The idea of someone reading my personal thoughts and opinions seems invasive and just too public. In fact, I don't even care for that word, "blog." It sounds ugly. Despite my distaste for the word and the concept, I realized that most people will never experience what I have experienced and will never have the opportunity to see what I have seen in this world. I feel it is time to share these experiences in hopes of inspiring and educating others. So, I invite you to read about my travels and my personal reflections. I invite you to see the world through my eyes.

"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has."  -Margaret Mead